What should I be doing when there is a New Moon?
By the Be Awake Aware Alive team
As we scroll through our social media feeds, it feels like every month we are bombarded with reminders: "It’s the New Moon! Set your intentions!" But if you are new to lunar living, that can feel a bit vague. What does "setting an intention" actually look like? Am I supposed to chant? Light a candle? Write a novel?
First, let’s debunk a common myth: The New Moon is not a time for "doing." It is a time for being.
In the lunar cycle, the New Moon represents the "Dark Moon"—the brief period where the sky is black and the Moon is invisible to us. In nature, this is the planting phase. The seed is in the ground, but you can't see it yet. Nothing is happening above the soil, but everything is happening beneath it.
Here is your guide to navigating the New Moon energy, broken down into tangible, actionable steps.
1. The Inner Pause (Rest is Productive)
The New Moon is the "Winter" of the monthly cycle. If you try to push forward with high energy and massive action, you will hit a wall. This is a time for solitude.
Do: Say no to social plans. Give yourself a "bedtime" that is an hour earlier than usual.
Do: Sit in silence. Even five minutes of staring out a window without your phone allows your subconscious to surface.
Why: This quiet allows your intuition to speak. If you are always busy, you can't hear the whispers of what you truly want.
2. The Brain Dump (Clear the Clutter)
Before you can plant new seeds, you must clear the soil of weeds and rocks. The New Moon is the perfect time for a "consciousness clean-out."
Do: Journal relentlessly. Write down every worry, every nagging thought, and every mundane to-do list item that is cluttering your brain.
Do: Write a "Let Go" list. Ask yourself: What am I carrying that isn't mine to carry? Is it resentment? Fear? A goal that society told me to want but I don't actually care about?
Why: You cannot pour new wine into an old, dirty bottle. By emptying your mind, you make space for clarity.
3. The Focused Intention (The "How" vs. "What")
Here is where we get specific. The New Moon is a powerful manifesting portal, but only if you do it right.
Do: Write a list of intentions, but focus on the feeling, not the physical object. Instead of writing "I want a new car," write "I intend to feel free and secure in my daily travels."
The Twist: Write in the present tense as if it has already happened. The Universe responds to the frequency of gratitude. Say "I am so grateful for the abundance flowing into my life" rather than "I hope I get money."
Keep it short: Limit yourself to 3 major intentions. If you have a list of 20 things, the universe doesn't know where to focus its energy. Three core themes are enough.
4. The "Seed" Ritual (Make it Physical)
Energy follows thought, but thought is made tangible through action.
Do: Light a white or black candle. These colors represent the blank slate of the New Moon.
Do: Write your intentions on a small piece of paper. Fold it towards you (to bring it in) and place it under a crystal (like Clear Quartz or Amethyst) or under your pillow.
Do: If you are a plant person, this is the ideal day to physically plant a seed or buy a new houseplant. Every time you water it in the coming weeks, you will water your intention.
5. What NOT to Do (The Banishment)
Just as important as what you should do is what you should avoid.
Don't: Take immediate, massive action. The New Moon is too dark to see the path clearly. Wait for the Waxing Crescent (the first sliver of light) to start making phone calls or pitching ideas.
Don't: Engage in conflict. People are generally more sensitive and irritable during the Dark Moon. It is a time for reflection, not confrontation.
Don't: Force it. If you don't feel "manifest-y" and just feel tired, that is perfectly okay. Honor where you are. If you are tired, sleep. The Moon will wax again soon.
The Takeaway
Think of the New Moon as your personal "New Year's Eve" – but you get it every single month.
It is a chance to hit the reset button on your emotional, spiritual, and mental state. It is your invitation to stop rushing and start listening.
So, when the next New Moon rolls around, dim the lights, grab a notebook, and ask yourself one simple question: "If I could let go of everything holding me back, what would I have room to grow into?"
The answer to that question is your seed. Now, go plant it.
Journal Prompt for your New Moon:
"If I knew I couldn't fail, what is the one thing I would create in the next 30 days?"
With thanks to kaboompics at pexels.com for the great image
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